Katie's Lesson
While researching for possible novels to use for a Revolutionary War Novel Unit, I came across My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier.I decided to base a “lesson” around the book which tells of a young boy (Tim Meeker) who lives in a Loyalist town, but still must decide which side of the Revolutionary War he believes in.The book shows arguments both for and against the decision to fight for independence through the characters of Tim’s brother Sam and father Mr. Meeker.Ultimately, the book illustrates the harsh realities of war.I decided that this book was the best choice to start the discussion of which side was “right” in the Revolutionary War, and provide students with “anti-independence” arguments, which will be useful when the class begins researching for their “anti-independence” view in the mock-Continental Congress debate. Based upon the novel and resources found throughout the Internet, I created a rough sketch of how I wanted my lessons to progress:
Week One:
Present Author Information
Introduce Novel
Assign Chapters 1-5 (some chapter to be read in class and some out of class)
Discuss chapters; explain journal assignment and other worksheets, complete group work in class, examine various writing assignments.
Assignment: Complete Character Organizer, Pros and Cons for Independence Organizer, Text-to-Self Topic 1, Evidence and Inference Topic 1, Chapter 1-5 Review Game, Journal Check
Week Two:
Assign Chapters 6-11 (to be read in class and/or out of class)
Discuss chapters and journal entries, complete in class group work, examine worksheets and assignments
Assignment: Practice writing letters by writing a letter to self predicting the ending of the story, Evidence and Inference Topic 2, writing/art assignment describing an outdoor environment, graphic organizer, Text-to-Self Topic 2, Timeline of Events
Week Three:
Assign Chapters 12-Epilogue (to be read in class and/or out of class)
Discuss chapters and journal entries, complete in class group work, examine worksheets and assignments
Assignment: Evidence and Inference Topic 3, write a persuasive letter to Tim for why he should or should not support the Loyalists, Patriots, and/or the war, write a new ending for the story, Text-to-Self Topic 3, completed journal entries turned in
While researching for possible novels to use for a Revolutionary War Novel Unit, I came across My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier. I decided to base a “lesson” around the book which tells of a young boy (Tim Meeker) who lives in a Loyalist town, but still must decide which side of the Revolutionary War he believes in. The book shows arguments both for and against the decision to fight for independence through the characters of Tim’s brother Sam and father Mr. Meeker. Ultimately, the book illustrates the harsh realities of war. I decided that this book was the best choice to start the discussion of which side was “right” in the Revolutionary War, and provide students with “anti-independence” arguments, which will be useful when the class begins researching for their “anti-independence” view in the mock-Continental Congress debate. Based upon the novel and resources found throughout the Internet, I created a rough sketch of how I wanted my lessons to progress:
Week One:
Week Two:
Week Three:
See John's Lesson Plan